Read Online Bad Hair 8 - Day Perish By Pedicure by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online
Authors: Nancy J. Cohen
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station. “Lieutenant Dalton Vail in Homicide,” she told the operator. Then, “Dalton? Sorry to bodier you at work. Just wanted to touch bases and let you know what’s going on. I met Justine and Larry this morning. I hope they can entertain themselves until you pick them up later, when Brianna comes home from school. I’m stuck at the convention center all day and don’t know if we’ll get to my salon to do the models’ hair. The company director was found dead this morning.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Actually, I’m not. The cops think she may have had a seizure. Do you think you can find out anything from your buddies in Fort Lauderdale?”
After a pause to digest the news, he said, “I’ll give them a call. Give me the victim’s name.”
“Christine Parks. Uh-oh, I’ve got to go. Here comes the regional manager, and I need to talk to her. I’ll get back to you later. Love you.” Stuffing her cell phone back into her purse, she hustled toward Jan.
“Morning, Marla,” Jan said, looking svelte in a black turtleneck sweater and a leather miniskirt. Her hazel eyes shone with clarity of purpose, while her hips swung with confidence. She looked the consummate professional, ready to take charge.
“Is that your breakfast?” Marla asked, pointing to the bottle of yogurt fruit shake in Jan’s hand.
“Yep. You should try one of these drinks. They’re rich in nutrients.”
“That’s okay. I need solid food for energy in the morning.”
“Exercising helps, too. I get sluggish if I don’t do my morning routine. Where’s the rest of the crew?”
“Everyone is inside setting up the booth,” Marla told her. “I’m so sorry about Chris. This must be very difficult for you.”
Jan tossed her sleek red head. “I’m not surprised that Chris worked herself into a frenzy. She micromanaged everyone’s job. I won’t be like that if I get her position.”
“I see,” Marla said, taken aback by Jan’s callous attitude. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented, she threw out a probe. “Were you surprised when she promoted you to regional manager? I understand Tyler would have liked the job.”
“He was really in line for it. Tyler wouldn’t give her what she wanted, though, so she passed him over. You learned quickly not to cross the boss lady, but trust was another issue. I came by that lesson the hard way.”
“How so?”
“Come on, let’s go inside.” Jan headed for the exhibit hall. “I believed her about something and got totally messed as a result. It taught me to verify whatever she said.”
“It sounds like she had a way of offending people.”
Jan gave her a sly glance. “If you keep your nose down, you can get ahead at Luxor. There’s plenty of opportunity for people who put the team ahead of their personal ambitions.”
Like you? Give me a break . “Thanks for the advice,” she murmured.
Jan halted at the main concourse inside the exhibit hall. “Have any of the models arrived yet?” she asked, peering around at the bustling scene. “Sampson told me what time they were supposed to arrive, but I forgot. How much did you get done at the booth?”
“Quite a lot, but everyone is upset by Chris’s death. They need your calming influence. What did you tell the police?” Marla added in an idle tone, hoping to catch Jan off guard.
“They needed a list of company employees working on the show plus a rundown of anyone who’d spoken to Chris yesterday. That was tough, because she’d greeted a lot of folks at the cocktail party. I mean, why did they ask so many questions when she obviously had some medical problem no one recognized?”
Marla wondered if Jan had heard of the discourse between Chris and Tyler later that night, and of Chris’s subsequent accusation. “It’s just routine in cases with an unaccompanied death,” she replied.
Veering left, Jan proceeded to their exhibit space. “I mean, who knew Chris was taking antidepressants? Someone on
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Actually, I’m not. The cops think she may have had a seizure. Do you think you can find out anything from your buddies in Fort Lauderdale?”
After a pause to digest the news, he said, “I’ll give them a call. Give me the victim’s name.”
“Christine Parks. Uh-oh, I’ve got to go. Here comes the regional manager, and I need to talk to her. I’ll get back to you later. Love you.” Stuffing her cell phone back into her purse, she hustled toward Jan.
“Morning, Marla,” Jan said, looking svelte in a black turtleneck sweater and a leather miniskirt. Her hazel eyes shone with clarity of purpose, while her hips swung with confidence. She looked the consummate professional, ready to take charge.
“Is that your breakfast?” Marla asked, pointing to the bottle of yogurt fruit shake in Jan’s hand.
“Yep. You should try one of these drinks. They’re rich in nutrients.”
“That’s okay. I need solid food for energy in the morning.”
“Exercising helps, too. I get sluggish if I don’t do my morning routine. Where’s the rest of the crew?”
“Everyone is inside setting up the booth,” Marla told her. “I’m so sorry about Chris. This must be very difficult for you.”
Jan tossed her sleek red head. “I’m not surprised that Chris worked herself into a frenzy. She micromanaged everyone’s job. I won’t be like that if I get her position.”
“I see,” Marla said, taken aback by Jan’s callous attitude. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented, she threw out a probe. “Were you surprised when she promoted you to regional manager? I understand Tyler would have liked the job.”
“He was really in line for it. Tyler wouldn’t give her what she wanted, though, so she passed him over. You learned quickly not to cross the boss lady, but trust was another issue. I came by that lesson the hard way.”
“How so?”
“Come on, let’s go inside.” Jan headed for the exhibit hall. “I believed her about something and got totally messed as a result. It taught me to verify whatever she said.”
“It sounds like she had a way of offending people.”
Jan gave her a sly glance. “If you keep your nose down, you can get ahead at Luxor. There’s plenty of opportunity for people who put the team ahead of their personal ambitions.”
Like you? Give me a break . “Thanks for the advice,” she murmured.
Jan halted at the main concourse inside the exhibit hall. “Have any of the models arrived yet?” she asked, peering around at the bustling scene. “Sampson told me what time they were supposed to arrive, but I forgot. How much did you get done at the booth?”
“Quite a lot, but everyone is upset by Chris’s death. They need your calming influence. What did you tell the police?” Marla added in an idle tone, hoping to catch Jan off guard.
“They needed a list of company employees working on the show plus a rundown of anyone who’d spoken to Chris yesterday. That was tough, because she’d greeted a lot of folks at the cocktail party. I mean, why did they ask so many questions when she obviously had some medical problem no one recognized?”
Marla wondered if Jan had heard of the discourse between Chris and Tyler later that night, and of Chris’s subsequent accusation. “It’s just routine in cases with an unaccompanied death,” she replied.
Veering left, Jan proceeded to their exhibit space. “I mean, who knew Chris was taking antidepressants? Someone on
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